Memories

This outfit is my very favorite.  I am wearing one of my most prized possessions-this dress of my grandmother's. I've seen pictures of her wearing it holding my aunt in the early 1960's. I styled it quite differently than she did however. In the pictures she has a straight bob cut in her hair and pearls round her neck with simple heels.  I'll have to get a hold of that picture someday. 

Here are my sister's and I playing dress up in grandma's old clothes. I am on the left wearing the dress I speak of. We used to have tea parties and run around the farm in these fancy dresses. It was the best. One sister got to be princess that day and she got the best dress and a tiara. We'd sit around the table and use grandma's nice plates while eating crackers and jam and sipping on juice. Those are some of my most wonderful memories :)

My how I've grown!

I loved how soft and glittery the snowflakes appeared. The snowfall we had was so gentle and light that it created a perfect 'time stands still' look to it.

I finally tried my hair in curlers that had been wet set the night before. It was much curlier than I expected! I love curls though. I'm one of those straight-haired people that wished they had naturally curly hair (to which all the nat.curly haired people respond, "No you don't!" But no really, I do :) ). I love how soft and wonderful it feels. I may start using curlers more often. It really only took about 30-45 minutes to put up, and I'm sure with more practice it would take less. I'm going to have to experiment using different types of curlers as well as various techniques.

I didn't quite plan to wear my yellow tights with this, but when I saw how perfectly the color matched the yellow roses on the dress I couldn't resist. One doesn't just pass up an opportunity like that. Especially a color enthusiast like me :)
I believe these gloves were made to match the dress, they are also my grandmother's and match the gray/lavender color of this frock perfectly.

I had to throw my great-grandmother's peacoat on to complete the look. It has the most magical shimmering threads sewn through it.

What are some of your favorite childhood memories friends?
Have a happy Sunday!
God Bless,
KJA

1 John 3:16
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

Wearing:

Beret- Gift from my sister-bought in France (so it's authentic! haha)

Cardigan- Hand me down from sister

Belt- Thrifted

Dress, Gloves- Grandmother's

Coat- Great-Grandmother's

Shoes- You by Crocs, Thrifted

Bag- Vintage, Thrifted

Tights- Target

Scarf-speration

Need some inspiration on how to wear your favorite scarves this season? Check out Flock Together today to see how some of the girls styled their favorites. Hope to see you there!

And I'll be back tomorrow with regularly scheduled programming :)

God Bless!

KJA

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Valentine's Day Date

Sean and I had the best time on our Valentine's date last night. Usually our Valentine's Days are disastrous in some way, so it was nice to have one go right this year :) We got polished up and made our way to our favorite diner for some 50's music, milkshakes, and sweetheart waitresses. I even had one waitress tell me I looked, "cute as a button!" which of course I thoroughly enjoyed.  I tried to convince Sean to let me take some pictures of him, but it was rather cold and he isn't as stupid as I am to stand and freeze while posing :) However, I did get some fun shots of us at the diner.

I wanted a really 50's look for this night. I have a lot of 60's vintage, but not as much 50's in my closet. However this bubblegum pink circle skirt of my grandmother's and faded cardigan of my great-grandmother's were perfect. Along with a strand of pearls I wore in my sister's wedding and a fancy hairdo I felt positively right for the occasion.

We got mint oreo milkshakes. They were pretty amazing. This was before our meal even came-we started on the sweets early! Naughty us....

This was the most I could do to my hair with a curling iron. Right this minute I am sitting with my hair in curlers anticipating a mass of curls on my head by the afternoon. Here's hoping!
I also had to bring my favorite little 50's clutch with this ensemble. It is fully beaded in all kinds of pastel colors and is just the perfect little thing. I bring it to all my special occasions. I found it in a flea market ages ago when shopping with my mother. I swear I find the best stuff when she's with me-a good luck charm she is!

They both look pretty good, huh? haha :)

See the fade marks on the cardigan? This was laying out in my grandparent's old house rotting away and getting bleached by the sun when I found it and salvaged it. I think the faded places give it character and something unique. It even has my great-grandmother's name sewn into the collar-Martha Jones :) What a treasure!

And yes...we did end the dinner with the most delicious chocolate cake I've ever had in my life. We felt pretty sweet after leaving! I even made Sean dance outside with me to "In the Still of the Night"  by The Five Satins which was playing through the speakers outside. Twas pretty magical.

Sean ended up making me a wonderful CD full of songs that meant something to us. He put it in a sweet card with a description for every song about why it was special (along with a disclaimer that it was completely 'Janice free' if you get the Friends reference!). It was so sweet and meaningful and I'm very blessed to have this guy in my life! Don't know what I did to deserve it, but I'm sure thankful :)

Ok, the gushing will be over now. But hey, if I can't gush on V-day, then when can I? Gush free until next year, promise ;)

God Bless my lovely friends, 

KJA

Romans 12:10

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Wearing:

Cardigan- Great-grandmother's

Skirt, Coat- Grandmother's

Pearls- Gift from my lovely sister :)

Shoes- Target

Belt, Bag- Vintage, thrifted 

Valentine's Day

I have my Sean home with me on Valentine's Day. Granted, he is working remotely on his computer right now. However I still got to make him a special breakfast and just having him home makes life a bit sweeter today. We have fun plans to get all gussied up tonight in vintage attire and hit the town at our favorite diner. I'll probably be spending the afternoon trying to get my hair to curl or some other such nonsense. 

I've had this dress for at least five years, but I have yet to wear it on the blog. I've worn it to a few weddings and such. I thought Valentine's Day was the perfect way to debut this beauty in all of its pink, polka-dotted glory.  It is quite fun to twirl around in and I love the shape of it.

I hope you all have a very blessed and wonderful Valentine's Day filled with the ones you love. Before I was married I shared this day with my parents or my gal pals-whatever people make you happy are the ones you should be with today!

Don't forget there is One who loves you ultimately and infinitely today as well :)

God Bless!

KJA

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Wearing:

Dress- JC Penny

Blouse- Macy's

Tights- Target

Shoes- You by Crocs, Thrifted 

Belt- Thrifted 

Coat- Thrifted 

Ring- Gift from a friend :) 

Pink Kicks

I love mixing classic pieces with things that are totally out of the box. I wasn't planning on pairing these pink wedges with a tweed blazer when I came up with this combination, but I ended up loving how it looked weird/slightly crazy. I was planning on more of a grunge or sporty look when I thrifted these a couple of weeks ago, but I just can't stray completely from my instincts.

 

Have any of you found this girl's blog yet? I'm sure you have as she's one of my very favorites. Well, she and I thrifted pairs of velcro kicks around the same time and so she inspired me to wear mine the other day! They are totally different, as mine are hot pink...and ridiculous while hers are super cool charcoal high tops- but, eh I'll take what I can get. I even tried to get some sweet jump shots like she did (seriously, who looks that cute when they're jumping?!), but all I got was this one (of me yelling sparta or something? Idk...).

Anyway, I love these babies. Sean hates them, but that's ok, I hate some of his grubby t-shirts too so we're even :)

So, funny story. I have a male coworker at my job who yesterday when we were making small talk mentioned that he had to watch the bachelor on Monday nights. He knows all of their names and everything about it. He says he also watches bachelor pad and all of those silly shows. Am I nuts or is that just completely hilarious?! I've never heard of a guy even LIKING the show much less being so into it as this guy seemed. I got a good belly laugh out of it anyway. 

Well my darlings, dishes and laundry are calling my name on this day off of mine. I hope you have a happy day!

God Bless, 

KJA

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Wearing:

Top, Blazer- Target

Scarf- Gift fom my lovely sister :)

Pants- Old Navy-thrifted

Shoes- Thrifted

Analogous

While my entire state was inundated with massive amounts of snow over the past weekend, but all we got was a ton of freezing rain (enough to leave about a 3 inch shell around my car), and then some wet, sloppy snow. Things are definitely a mess around here! 

I got some snaps of the snowfall that came on Sunday...

I have this thing for orange and red lately. I really love the way analogous colors pair with one another. They're like two good friends, rubbing shoulders and chatting over a nice cup of hot chocolate on the color wheel. The colors have to be warm you know that's why they're drinking cocoa.  I like to let one color take center stage and then pair other colors I like in smaller amounts throughout the ensemble. I had to make red my statement color this time for Valentine's week of course ;) but I couldn't help pairing it's buddy orange/rust for quite the fun combination. Not to mention, pink and red are getting pretty acquainted with one another on the wheel as well. My oh my ;)
I felt like a Scooby Doo character in this getup-a mix of Velma's colors and Daphne's hair. 

Well, today is my last day of school for the week! Teacher's have in-service and compensation days so we get an extended President's Day weekend! I am beyond excited. That means that today we're having our Valentine's Party. I found this really cool activity (I'm required to do so many science/math/art/etc. lessons each month) where the kids can make their own butter by shaking whipping cream in jars, so we'll have some of that along with our Valentine treats. Should be fun! 

Have a very Fabulous Tuesday all :)

God Bless!

KJA

1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Wearing:

Dress, Scarf- Grandmother's

Blouse (Underneath)- Vintage, Thrifted

Coat- Vintage, Thrifted via Uptown Flea Market

Tights- Target

Wedges- Kohl's

Lady in Red

Hello my dears! Be sure to  fly on over to Flock Together today to see my monochromatic take on a fun peplum top!

Hope to see you there :)

God Bless!

KJA

John 15:17

This is my command: Love each other.